Very few are fortunate to experience love at first sight throughout their lives, and for most, this remains an oversweet cliche preserved for movies and novels. Janice Rude and Prentiss Willson had a novel of their own.
They met in 1962, and yes, it was love at first sight. They were soon engaged. However, shortly after, they called it all off. Fifty years later, they were about to find out why.
Matt and Laura Met in Preschool
This story goes back almost a quarter of a century. When they were three years old, Matt Grodsky and Laura Scheel both attended the same preschool in Phoenix, Arizona. The two kids hit it off right away and became fast friends.
Matt saw Laura for the first time on the playground and immediately knew that he wanted to be her friend. He decided to let her know by following her wherever she went. Laura took the hint and befriended Matt and they soon became inseparable. Their parents thought that the friendship between them was the cutest thing ever but didn’t pay it too much attention. Kids change their friends all the time after all.
Laura Saw Matt as a Goofball at First
When Matt decided that he wanted to be Laura’s friend, he started following her around the playground all day. In an interview, he told Today, “I don’t remember the first time I saw her, but she was always a girl who let me follow her around.”
Laura didn’t understand why Matt was following her around and thought he was a goofball at first, but soon discovered that he was funny and good-hearted. The duo quickly became the best of friends. They did everything together, from playing hide-and-seek out on the playground to keep each other up when they were supposed to be napping.
Joined at the Hip
Spending time together during preschool hours soon wasn’t enough for Matt and Laura, and they wanted to meet on afternoons and weekends too. Their parents already knew each other by then, so the tiny BFFs started hanging out together outside of preschool as well. They actually planned dates and even went to the movies together, although for obvious reasons an adult had to be present.
Little Matt liked to hold Laura’s hand when the movie got too scary. These two friends were joined at the hip and even though Matt was only four years old, he wasn’t shy about his feelings for Laura and wanted to share them with the world.
Matt Liked to Make an Impression
When we think about all the ways in which we tried to impress our friends as kids, hilarious things come to mind. From letting them cut our Barbie’s hair to showing off our ability to do a handstand. Being impressive was much easier back then and a lot more fun.
One of Matt’s favorite pastimes was trying to impress his best friend Laura. He liked to show her how cool he was by reciting lines from all of his favorite Disney movies such as The Lion King.
Laura Helped Matt Learn Things
Just as Matt had known right away, Laura was a really amazing person. She was always impressing him with all the things she knew how to do, and she was even willing to teach him. She taught him how to swing on the swings, draw rolling hills and maybe most importantly, the correct way to eat string cheese.
Those may not seem like super important things to an adult, but if you’re lucky enough to have a friend teach you those things as a kid, they become something you will always remember.
Childhood Sweethearts
When the age of four rolled around, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Matt and Laura were best friends. It was easy to see since they were inseparable at preschool and also spent time together every weekend. They had a very special connection and anyone who met them thought that they were each other’s sweetheart’s, especially Matt.
He decided to make it official by standing up in class one day and telling everyone that he and Laura were going to get married someday, saying, “Just you wait!” All the kids burst out laughing, probably because girls are gross but also because who really stays in touch with their friends from preschool.
Friends Forever?
Although no one really believed that Matt’s declaration would come true, he and Laura stayed best friends all through preschool. They would often spend time together outside of class and made sure to attend each other’s birthday parties every year.
Despite the fact that they were only four years old, their connection was obviously quite special. Maybe there was something to Matt’s statement after all? However, as the end of preschool came near, a big change was coming for the two friends, they were going to start kindergarten.
Heading to Kindergarten
Soon the big day finally arrived – Matt and Laura were about to start attending kindergarten. They had finished preschool and were about to embark on their next big life adventure.
The first day of kindergarten is a bit nerve-wracking in any case, but Matt and Laura were feeling especially excited and anxious. The inseparable friends didn’t know if they would be placed in the same class and began to understand that they might not be able to spend the entire day together anymore.
Matt and Laura Went to Different Schools
Turns out their worries were not unfounded, not only were they not in the same kindergarten class, they weren’t even in the same school. It was not that their parents wanted to separate them, but unfortunately, they were registered for school according to the neighborhood they lived in.
Matt and Laura were extremely unhappy when they found out that they wouldn’t be able to spend as much time together. Their parents didn’t understand how deep their connection was and assured the two best friends that they could still play together during the weekends.
They Still Hung Out Occasionally
Although their parents made promises about the kids being able to play together on weekends, this turned out to be only partly true. Life has a way of filling up and over time, Matt and Laura began to see less and less of each other.
Matt and Laura, however, still tried to spend as much time together as they could. One year they even took an adorable picture of themselves with two other friends for this Christmas card. Sadly, as kindergarten ended and elementary school began, the pals began to see even less of each other. They had no idea that eventually their only contact would take place through Christmas Cards.
Christmas Card Connection
While Matt and Laura were growing up, they saw each other less and less frequently. They had once played together every single day and even taken their Christmas card photos together but were now communication only through the yearly Christmas cards their families exchanged in the mail.
Although the two friends missed each other at first, over time they became busy with school, family, homework and of course new friends, and got wrapped up in their everyday lives.
Moving On
Although in some cases absence makes the heart grow fonder, in many cases people drift apart. It seems like that was the case for Matt and Laura, who after several years had gone by, no longer eagerly anticipated the yearly Christmas cards from the other’s family. They were too busy growing up and living their lives.
Growing up is all about learning new things, meeting new people, and experiencing new things, which makes it easier to leave things from your childhood behind. It was easy to dismiss Matt and Laura’s adorable childhood friendship as a nice memory and move on.
Freshman Year
Ten years had gone by in a flash and Laura and Matt were all set to start high school. They were once again enrolled in different schools and thoughts of their old friends rarely even crossed their minds. That was not surprising, since it had been almost an entire decade since they were genuinely close.
So, it was even more surprising when in the fall of Laura’s freshman year something remarkable happened. She was playing around with her friend’s phone when a familiar name suddenly popped up - Matt Grodsky!
Bringing Back Memories
Laura couldn’t believe it when she saw Matt’s name, just looking at it brought back many happy childhood memories. She wondered how her friend even knew Matt and it turned out that they had met in middle school. Talk about a small world.
Laura told her friend all about her and Matt’s special preschool connection. She felt that it was a nice memory but decided not to dwell on it, but her friend felt differently...
Playing Matchmaker
Laura’s story about her and Matt’s preschool romance got her friend thinking. She decided to recreate the romance by setting Matt and Laura up! The more she thought about it, the more she felt that they could be a good fit for each other.
She told Laura about the idea, but at first Laura wasn’t sure what to think. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Matt in years, who knew what he was like now. There was no way that their relationship could go back to what it was. Or could it?
The Friend Gave Matt Laura’s Number
Not only was Laura super nervous about being set up on a date with Matt, which is understandable, she was also not sure if this was even a good time to have a boyfriend.
She explained this to People saying, “I was a freshman in high school so I was like, ‘I don’t think so!’” Her friend decided to ignore Laura’s reservations because she had a really good feeling about the whole thing. She gave Matt Laura’s number and she couldn’t believe his reaction.
He Didn’t Wait to Text
Matt didn’t wait long to reach out. He texted Laura soon after he received her number and after chatting for a bit they decided to get together. They made a plan to go to the movies for their first date.
Amazingly, as soon as they met up it felt like no time had gone by. In an interview with People, Matt even claimed that he knew it was love at first sight. The old friends went right back to their preschool ways in an instant.
They Still Had It!
Although Laura and Matt were best friends in their preschool days, there was no guarantee that they would still like each other as teenagers. That made it even more surprising that they hit it off right away. Their first date was a great success and not long afterward, they officially started dating and became boyfriend and girlfriend.
Despite still attending different schools, they were older now and could drive themselves, which allowed them the freedom to pursue the relationship. They were once again joined at the hip and were each other’s dates for school dances and other events. However, college was coming up and would throw everything for a loop all over again.
A Difficult Decision
During their final year of high school, Laura and Matt had a difficult decision ahead of them. They were planning on attending colleges in different states, but they didn’t want to lose each other. After already being separated once, they didn’t want to sacrifice their relationship, but they didn’t want to miss out on the college experience either.
Laura explains their feelings in an interview with People saying, “Right after we graduated from high school, we were pretty hesitant. We were like, ‘Do we stay together? Do we try to make it work?’” Although they had attended different schools before, this time there would be over 1,000 miles between them.
Going the Distance
After a lot of deliberations, Matt and Laura decided to attend the colleges of their choice, but also chose not to give up on each other. They wanted to give long distance a try, Laura from Northern Arizona University and Matt from Chicago where he was attending Columbia College. All in all, they ended up 1,600 miles from each other.
And although they couldn’t keep their relationship alive when they were small children, this time was completely different. They were 100% committed to staying together.
Making It Work
Matt and Laura realized that living their lives so far apart would be incredibly difficult, but they cared for each other so much that they decided that they would do whatever it took to make it work. So, while they made sure to enjoy and fully participate in their college life, they always made sure to save some time for each other.
Living in different time zones, that was not always an easy thing to do, but thanks to Facetime and social media, they made sure to “see” each other every single day. The pair also visited each other in their new homes as often as they could.
They Didn’t See Each Other For Six Months
Even though they used social media and Facetime to talk to each other and keep up with the other’s lives, there were still plenty of times when they couldn’t spend time together face to face. One time, the couple even went six long months between visits.
During their college years, Matt and Laura made an important discovery, they truly wanted to spend their lives together. Unfortunately, the distance between then was getting harder and harder to bear, especially for Matt and he decided that he was going to have to do something about it.
The Final Year
The couple had been toughing it out and it was finally their senior year again, but this time of college. Matt decided to plan a special celebration to mark the beginning of their last year of school. The two were both home for the summer and Matt came up with an incredibly sweet date idea.
They both deserved a break after working so hard during the school year, so Matt wanted to surprise Laura with something both romantic and relaxing. He planned a picnic at their old preschool. That is the most adorable thing ever, but Matt still had more surprises in store.
Matt Had A Plan
Matt did intend to take Laura for a romantic and relaxing picnic at this special place, but that was just the beginning of his plan.
Matt told the Huffington Post, “I convinced Laura that we were going to a picnic at the preschool. We had just finished up our junior year of college, so I framed it as a nice relaxing date.” Despite the fact that they had been dating for quite a few years at this point, Laura still had no idea what Matt had up his sleeve.
The Surprise Location
Although Laura knew that Matt had planned a special picnic for them to share, she did not suspect he was taking her to the very preschool in which they had met almost 20 years before.
Matt couldn’t wait to surprise Laura with this thoughtful gesture. He believed that the preschool was the perfect symbol to help celebrate their love. He felt that their story was special, and it was important for him to take Laura to the place where it all began.
Matt Was Acting Nervous
On their way to the preschool, Laura noticed that Matt was acting nervous. He fidgeted in his seat during the entire car ride. She thought he was just excited about finally revealing the surprising location of their date to her.
When they finally pulled up to their destination, Laura was awestruck by the incredibly thoughtful gesture. She was so happy to have Matt in her life and seeing the place where they met made her extremely emotional.
The Proposal
Laura was already extremely surprised that Matt had orchestrated a picnic for them at their old preschool, but she was completely blown away when he suddenly got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. The surprise proposal took her breath away.
Laura told People about the experience, “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this happening?’ I saw the ring and was like, ‘This is gorgeous. I’m so happy with it.’ I had no idea.” Although it was not very surprising when she said “YES!” How did Matt manage to plan this surprise engagement with Laura none the wiser?
Months of Planning
Although Matt actually proposed to Laura on May 23, 2015, he had been planning the occasion for months. He bought the beautiful engagement ring months before the actual proposal and even went so far as to ask for Laura’s dad’s blessing before popping the question.
Matt also got his brother to hide out at the preschool so that he could snap a picture of the surprise engagement and used the old picnic basket his father had used to propose to his mother, which was an incredibly sweet touch. His parents packed the basket full of wedding magazines and sparkling cider. Although Laura didn’t know it, the day’s surprises were not all done.
Starting Their Future Where It All began
Despite the fact that Matt and Laura had not finished college yet, Matt decided that he didn’t want to wait until graduation. He knew in his heart that Laura was “The One” and wanted to put a ring on her finger. Therefore, he went ahead and acted on his preschool pledge.
Matt looks back on the fond memory in an interview with the Huffington Post stating, “I proposed to her at the place where it all began … our preschool classroom. When you like someone, you just kind of stand up and say it.” Seems like Matt really hadn’t changed all that much in 20 years, he wasn’t afraid to declare his love then or to ask Laura to be his wife now.
Matt and Laura Get Married
Matt and Laura tied the knot on December 30, 2016 at the Arizona Historical Society. The preschool sweethearts chose Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” for their first dance to commemorate Matt’s singing Disney hits for Laura when they were kids. Just when you thought they couldn’t be any more adorable.
Matt’s uncle officiated their wedding and found the perfect words to describe their amazing story saying, “For most kids in preschool, it’s about finding your snacks and your sleeping mats, but for them it was about finding their soulmates.” Matt and Laura’s life together was off to a great start.
Hawaiian Honeymoon
After all those years, Matt and Laura had finally gotten married, but that was no reason for the fun to end. After they said their “I do’s” the pair set off for the beautiful island of Maui for their honeymoon. They spent two wonderful weeks enjoying the island, but more importantly got to spend time relaxing and enjoying each other.
Laura was incredibly happy and decided that she wanted to share her and Matt’s amazing love story with the world. The newlyweds could have never expected what was going to happen next.
Laura Sent “The Way We Met” Their Story
Laura and Matt were used to hearing how special their relationship was from everyone around them. Now that Laura was an official Grodsky, she decided the time had come to share their story.
Laura sent an adorable picture of her and Matt at preschool along with a more recent photo and the story of their love to “The Way We Met.” This is an Instagram account that shares romantic stories about unique and adorable ways in which couples got together. They knew immediately that they just had to share Laura’s post.
Matt and Laura Break the Internet
In Laura’s post, the couple talks about their twenty-year relationship that began when they were only three years old. Matt talks romantically about Laura and says, “I was enamored with Laura as a child, and I still am to this day.”
Not long after “The Way We Met” shared the story, the couple’s story went viral! Many people enjoyed reading the story of Matt and Laura’s journey. Although the newlyweds thought people would get a kick out of their story, they had no idea that they would be getting such an amazing response.
Their Story Reaches Hundreds of Thousands
Matt and Laura’s story on the “The Way We Met” received over 30,000 likes and almost 1,000 comments at first. Laura was notified that their story had been shared with almost 400,000 followers. And if this wasn’t overwhelming enough, a number of media outlets were contacting the couple and wanted to learn everything they could about the unique story of their love.
Among the media outlets that reached out were The Today Show, The Huffington Post and People, who decided to run a full-length story on the newlyweds.
Plans for the Future
So, what does the future hold for Laura and Matt Grodsky? They have been married for nearly two years and are making the most of their lives. They are currently living in their home state of Arizona. Matt works as an account executive at a digital marketing firm and Laura works for a non-profit that focuses on helping foster children.
The couple bought a new home not long ago and are spending their free time filling it with little touches to make it their own. There has also been a special addition to their little family!
Puppy Parents
During the last couple years, one of the most important things that have happened to Matt and Laura is that they have become parents... of sorts. Soon after their marriage, Matt and Laura became puppy parents to a dog named Kirby who is cute as a button.
With full-time jobs, a new house and a puppy to raise, Laura and Matt are living busy and happy lives, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet in the future. Maybe even sooner rather than later. The pair discussed their feelings about becoming parents sometime soon in an interview with People.
Want to Have Kids, Someday
Matt and Laura are still quite young and have a lot going on, but they are sure that kids will be a part of their future. Laura told People, “We would love to have kids at some point. Right now we are focused on our new puppy Kirby and our new house.”
It’s no wonder that the two want to wait for a bit before expanding their family. They have had quite a few full years in which they graduated from college, got engaged and married, bought a home and adopted a furry friend!
Grateful For Each Other
Matt and Laura’s love story is unbelievable. They became best friends in preschool, didn’t see each other for eight years, reconnected through a friend and went on to fall in love and get married. The two understand how special their relationship is and are determined to never take it for granted.
“The best thing about our relationship is we are just silly and we appreciate each other every day,” they said to People. “Having gone through a long-distance relationship, you learn really quickly how much the other person means to you and we value our time.”
Matt and Laura Are Relationship Goals
Matt and Laura have only been married for a short time, but they have been together for years and have learned a couple of things about making a relationship work. They feel that one of the most important things to them is drive and positivity.
“My favorite thing about Matt is his humor, he always makes me happy and he is the most driven person I know,” says Laura. “He is always moving forward.” Matt chimes in, “My favorite thing about Laura is her infectious smile and her desire to help those who are less fortunate. She is a force for good and it’s inspiring to be around her every day.” If Matt and Laura made your heart feel tingly, just wait until you read about this next couple that will make you believe in the enduring power of true love.
Her Father Called Off Her Wedding, But Something She Found in Her Mother’s Purse 50 Years Later Changed Everything
Very few are fortunate to experience love at first sight throughout their lives, and for most, this remains an oversweet cliche preserved for movies and novels. Janice Rude and Prentiss Willson had a novel of their own.
They met in 1962, and yes, it was love at first sight. They were soon engaged. However, shortly after, they called it all off. Fifty years later, they were about to find out why.
From Nevada to the Occidental College
When Janice Rude enrolled in university in 1960, she never thought she would meet the love of her life there. She was raised in Reno, Nevada, and was brought up to be a hard worker.
Janice remembers her father being strict and tough at times; however, he always supported her desire for education. She registered at Occidental College, where her life would change forever.
From Home to the Cafeteria
Occidental College, located in Los Angeles, almost became an all-boys school after its establishment in 1887. Janice and Prentiss were lucky this never happened, or they would have never met and fallen in love. As soon as school started, Janice started to work at the local cafeteria to pay her tuition.
She would wake up at the crack of dawn and serve the thousands of students around. The athlete teams were regulars. They would visit the cafeteria early in the morning before practice. Janice knew them all; however, there was one who caught her eye more than anyone else.
The Willsons
Prentiss Willson came from a family of intellectuals. They thought highly of Prentiss and believed he would eventually turn to a great position and have a spectacular and respected career.
He arrived at Occidental College in 1961, one year after Janice, and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity as expected from him. Kappa Sigma was a family tradition that had to be preserved.
Crumbly Cereal Station
It was a bright morning, and Janice just arrived at school as every other morning. Like always, she entered the cafeteria from the back entrance and checked where she was positioned that day. Cereal station. Her favorite.
As she approached the counter, she spotted a young man who was waiting for service. Her heart began racing, her tongue became dry, and for a moment there, she stopped breathing.
An Early Start
That same morning, Prentiss wanted to get an early start to the day. He was planning on having a good run before his classes started and wanted to get his blood going and his mind flowing.
In the cafeteria, he helped himself to some eggs, bread, and bacon. The place was waking up; other students began coming through the wide, heavy cafeteria doors, and then, as if the world froze, their eyes met.
Where It All Began
Time had stopped. Janice and Prentiss looked deep into each other's eyes and were oblivious to all that was happening around them. Janice was stunningly beautiful, and Prentiss was the most handsome guy around.
Janice felt her cheeks turning into a darker shade of red while Prentiss almost lost his breath, dazzled by her glamour. He couldn't get his eyes off her; however, she shifted her focus to the food tray he was holding. She felt too uncomfortable looking him in the eye.
Always First in Line
The next morning, and the ones to follow, Prentiss made an effort to wake up early and be the first in line. He wasn't going to let any other athlete get a hold of Janice's attention.
Whenever their eyes crossed, Janice became insecure and immediately turned away. She thought Prentiss was gorgeous but didn't want him to realize that. Until one day...
Ice Breaking
As the days passed and they met each other's eyes more frequently, Janice became more and more confident, and eventually, she was able to hold her head high and look him straight forward. She was even able to put on a small smile whenever he approached.
One morning, Prentiss walked into the cafeteria, more handsome than ever. He was tall and had such an elegant presence. Janice just stood there and stared, not knowing what a significant role this man would have in her life.
It Was Now or Never
That same morning, Prentiss felt it was time. He knew he had to approach her but didn't know how. Whenever he saw her standing behind the cereal bowls in the cafeteria, her delicate and soft smile melted his heart.
He managed to somehow gather his courage and say "hi" in a quiet and shy manner. Janice blushed, and she couldn't do anything but look away.
Her First Name
Three weeks later, Prentiss discovered her name. Janice knew his name all along as she heard it before from the Kappa Sigma. She found herself wandering in the cafeteria all morning, memorizing his name and drifting up to higher skies.
Prentiss couldn't stop thinking about her, and now that he knew her name, he tried to get as much information about her as he could. Little did he know that, eventually, this young lady would turn his world around.
One Year Ahead
The fact that Janice was one year older than Prentiss didn't stop him from believing he had a chance with her. All he saw was a beautiful girl, and he wanted to get to know her better.
Every day at 6 am, he would arrive at the cafeteria, hoping for a short exchange of words with her and wishing for the best start to the day. And the day was indeed great.
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving break was just around the corner. Most students were preparing to go back home for a short break; however, Prentiss was nowhere to be found. He didn't show up at the cafeteria that morning as he usually did.
Although they had progressed and managed to hold a short conversation every now and then, and even though they hadn't met outside of the cafeteria walls when she realized he wasn't showing up, she was concerned.
Prentiss' Address
Janice was upset, heartbroken, and disappointed, but as she was making her way through the golden autumn leaves, she said to herself that she wouldn't let this get to her. There was a reason for him just disappearing, and she was about to find out what it was.
After asking around, she learned that he had already gone home for his Thanksgiving break. However, one of Prentiss's fraternity brothers willingly gave Janice his address - but the journey wouldn't be quick.
Three Hours on the Road
Santa Maria seemed to be on the other side of the world. Traveling there from Los Angeles would mean a 150-mile journey all by herself. Couldn't Prentiss' parents live closer?
The road was unfamiliar, and the radio turned into her voyage companion. Arriving at someone's house without any notice was unheard of; however, she felt it was the thing she had to do. Three hours later, she arrived at the house and was about to knock on the door.
Big House on the Prairie
Prentiss' parents lived in an old-fashioned ranch, bigger than any other house Janice ever knew. It was surrounded by fields, and it had a lovely porch right at the front.
Prentiss curled up on the couch and sunk into the book he was reading. All he was anticipating was a Thanksgiving home-cooked meal.
Early Regrets
Janice wasn't aware of this, but Prentiss regretted the fact that he never got a chance to say goodbye to her before leaving on his break. He felt bad; however, there was nothing he could do about it.
Just as those thoughts were going through his head, there was a knock on the door. He got up and approached the door, unaware of who was on the other side.
Surprise Surprise
At one point, Janice wanted to turn back as she felt awkward. However, just as she was about to leave, the footsteps she heard had already reached the door.
Prentiss couldn't get the shocked expression off his face. He was stunned. The last person he was expecting to see at his doorstep was beautiful Janice.
Thanksgiving Gift
Janice said she was sorry for arriving unannounced, but Prentiss didn't care as the girl he was dreaming about, the stunning cafeteria Janice, came to see him purely because she missed him. He was overwhelmed.
With no hesitation, he walked her in and introduced her to his mother and father. Prentiss recalled that the bonding with his mother was immediate, and the two instantly clicked.
The New Couple on Campus
The four of them had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner together, and then it was time for Janice to return to college for the rest of the break. From that day onwards, things were not the same on campus.
They would rarely be seen not holding hands, strolling around like Cinderella and Prince Charming. Their eyes sparkled and shone, and everyone knew this was meant to be. What was the future holding for these two? Only time will tell.
Early Proposal
Just as December kicked in and before Christmas arrived, Prentiss asked Janice to marry him. It might have seemed too fast, but Prentiss felt it was the right thing to do. He knew Janice was his girl from the moment he laid eyes on her.
The proposal was planned to be romantic and special, and with the help of his friends, Prentiss managed to pull off an evening to remember. Life couldn't get better. However, things were about to change.
Madly in Love
Janice didn't take her time and immediately answered, "yes." There was no hesitation, and Prentiss placed the golden band with the glittering diamond rock on her finger. They were young and in love and had their whole life in front of them.
While they were planning their wedding and the rest of their lives, they weren't aware that soon they would be fighting for their existence and for their love.
Paper Announcement
Prentiss' fraternity brothers and Janice's sorority sisters were all overwhelmed. The local newspaper announcement regarding the engagement caught them by surprise, but they were all happy and delighted for the two.
Janice's friends were going on and on over the ring while the guys were thrilled by the way they revealed the news. One thing was missing from the announcement, and that was the planned wedding date.
Trouble Ahead
Not everyone was so happy over the big news. Janice's father was a simple middle-class, blue-collar worker, and he had an issue with Prentiss' intellectual upper-class parents.
It wasn't only that he disapproved of the match, but he also told Janice that if she didn't break up with Prentiss, he would stop paying her tuition fees. He was not going to allow this to happen. Janice's mother thought otherwise.
A Little Too Far
Janice's mother wanted to help Janice. She understood that her daughter was in love and that love was stronger than anything else. Things were going to go a little too far.
She considered remortgaging their house so she could pay for Janice's tuition fee. She (Janice's mother) wanted to show Janice's father that there was no room for threats and that Prentiss and Janice were going to get married.
Decision Time
Janice feared leaving school. Not only was education very important for her, but she was also terrified that Prentiss would not think as highly of her if she dropped out of school.
Adding on to that, she was worried that Prentiss' eyes would begin to wander off until eventually getting caught by some other girl. Some other girl with a degree.
What Should She Do?
Unsurprisingly, Prentiss supported Janice. He assured her that her dropping out of college would mean nothing to him, and, in his eyes, she didn't have to have a degree. Even his mother was being supportive and suggested they elope.
It was January, and, for Janice, it was decision time. Does she break up with Prentiss and finish school or does she drop out and live happily ever after with the man she loves?
Two Broken Hearts
The winter couldn't have been colder. Heartbroken, Janice gave back to Prentiss the beautiful engagement ring he gave her. He was devastated and didn't believe his wounded heart could ever be repaired.
The days flew by, graduation was on their doorstep, and instead of becoming a world-famous biologist like she always wanted, Janice found herself running her family's business in Reno, Nevada.
It's a New Life
Prentiss eventually picked himself up and healed his broken heart. After Occidental College, the gates of Harvard were calling, and he began studying law. He would then become one of the San Francisco Bay area's most successful tax attorneys.
He married his next girlfriend; however, something inside wouldn't set Janice free, as he never truly got over her. If only he would have known that life's path would bring the two back together again.
Moving On
Although Janice wasn't involved in the profession she wanted, she managed to become very successful and achieved great things by running the family business. She became an honorary member of the American Diving Association’s Hall of Fame. She, too, married her next love in life.
Funny enough, neither of the marriages worked out, and both Prentiss and Janice got divorced. When it's meant to be, no other will do. They were fortunate to meet their soul mates early in life; however, they were not fortunate enough to stop life's barriers from calling the verdict.
Together in Pain
As if the two were mystically connected, they both lost their dear mother at about the same time, and unplanned, they were both grieving their loss. This loss would soon bring them back together.
While each was going through their mother's possession, they came across something that would eventually reunite them and end a five-decade period of being apart.
Hidden Treasures
Prentiss was barely over grieving his mother. Not completely healed from the breakup with Janice that happened all those years ago, he suddenly pulled out an old piece of newspaper. It was yellow and flakey but was the most wonderful thing he could find - a memory of the happiest time of his life.
When Janice was going through her late mother's folders, she too found the same piece of old newspaper announcing her engagement to Prentiss all those years ago. She felt her heart pinch, and she was overwhelmed by the findings. Prentiss was eager to try and contact Janice, but was Janice keen on meeting up with Prentiss after all those years?
As If They Never Parted
Prentiss swallowed his fear and reached out. Janice couldn't believe it. In no time, they agreed to meet - and something about this just felt right for the both of them. San Francisco mainstay, Cliff House, was where the two planned to meet. It was on June 20th, 2010, almost fifty years after they broke each other's hearts. Their eyes met, and the world froze.
It was like the old days in the cafeteria when they would stare at one another, not aware of what was going on around them. It was as if they were falling in love all over again.
Holding On to the Past
Janice's mother knew it, and Prentiss' mother knew it too. They belonged to each other. For what other reason would they keep that old newspaper announcement? Deep inside, Janice and Prentiss knew it too.
A little over six months later, the couple was engaged again. They had to complete this chapter in their lives. Two lost souls had finally found each other, and they couldn't ask for more.
Back to the Future
They both wanted to honor their late mothers, so they used the old announcements as part of their new engagement notices in the papers. They even married at the same place they initially intended to, for the sake of the good old days.
Old college friends attended their big day, and the excitement and emotions were poring all over. This was the greatest day of their lives, and they had been waiting for it for almost half a century.
The Final Finale
The stars shone on Janice and Prentiss, and finally, the two could exchange their vows and commit to one another forever. This time, their love would last for life as there were no barriers in their way.
When two people know they are meant to be together and are lucky enough to find their soulmate early in life. Nothing can beat them, as there is no stronger power than one person's will, and there is no stronger power than the power of love.